Metal desk construction



June 12, 1962 P. .1. KURENS METAL DESK CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1959 ...I I 1T,

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June 12, 1962 P. J. KURENS METAL DESK CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1959 INVENToR.

Mee-N5 f @u A from/5x PHIL/P J United States Patent Oilce 3,638,770 Fatented .lune l2, 1962 amarre METAL DESK CNS'IRUCTQN Philip l. Kurens, Hiliside ifi/.letal Products, Inc., $.62 Passaic St., Newark, NJ. Filed Ang. 26, 1059, Ser. No. 836,125 6 Claims. (Cl. S12-221) The present invention relates to a metal desk construction and it particularly relates to a locking member for locking the drawers of a metal desk construction.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, readily constructed and easily operated sliding drawer arrangement for -a metal desk in which the locking of the drawers may `be controlled semi-automatically without any undue burden upon the person using the desk and with assurance that the locking mechanism will not stick in locked or unlocked position, resulting in jamming of the drawers or requiring banging of the drawers to latch or unlatch such mechanism.

Another object is to provide a simple, reliable drawer locking arrangement, particularly suitable for metal drawer construction, which will be reliable in operation and will not require excessive movement of the locking elements, with undue friction because of rubbing or scraping of metal parts, one against the other.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved, simplified locking and anti-friction arrangement for metal drawers in association with a desk, which will eliminate the need for expensive and additional metal parts, or special constructions requiring considerable welding, which will not prevent rapid assembly of a metal desk construction and which will reliably operate over a long period of years.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory, according to one embodiment of the present invention, to provide a drawer slide arrangement having an L-shaped cross-section with nylon contact elements conveniently positioned along the length thereof to eliminate friction and with a camming member positioned to engage a rotary locking member.

This channel construction is desirably positioned on the center drawer and when the center drawer is closed it will swing the rotary vertical locking member or tare bar into position to lock the drawers against the force of a spring tending to turn the vertical locking member or tare bar into unlocked position.

This rotary vertical locking member or tare bar is desirably pivotally mounted upon the fixed channel members which carry the drawers and serve as sliding guides for the drawers. The vertical rotary locking member or tare bar is desirably provided with a series of outstanding tabs, which, when moved into locking position, will place an obstruction in the way of opening of any of the drawers.

In the preferred form of the invention, the actuating connection between the case member on the center drawer and the vertical rotary locking member or tare bar is a relatively stiff spring, which, when moved in one direction, will transmit movement to the rotary member, forcing it against the stop and into locking position.

This spring will normally be biased so as to tend to press the center drawer outwardly and when released it will immediately move to its initial position, carrying with it the vertical rotary locking member or tare bar.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

ln the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is an inside elevational view, showing one of the vertical positions ofthe desk from the drawer side of the channel guide members thereon and with the vertical locking member or tare bar extending between the drawer guides and the partition.

FIG. Z is a transverse sectional view upon the line 2-2 in FiG. l.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional View upon the line 3 3 of FlG. l.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View, showing the drawer in position adjacent the vertical locking bar or tare bar and the manner in which said vertical locking bar or tare bar is actuated into locking position, said view being upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 5 is a top fragmentary horizontal sectional View of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, showing the vertical locking bar in enlarged position.

FIG. 6 is a transverse `fragmentary vertical horizontal View similar to FIG. 5 but showing the locking bar in locking position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse horizontal sectional view upon an enlarged yscale as compared to FIGS. 5 and 6, showing the manner in which the vertical locking bar is rotatably secured without pivot bearings on the side and frame members for the drawers.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front corner of one of the drawers, showing the case member track with the arrangement which enables the vertical rotary locking bar or tare bar to lock the drawer in closed position.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIGS. 5 to 6, showing the spring arrangement which transmits the locking movement from the center drawer case member track to the vertical rotary locking member or tare bar.

Referring to FIGS. l to 8, there is shown a vertical interior partition A which will be between the center drawer of the desk B and the outside drawers C of the desk and which will serve as one of the main structural members of the desk.

The partition A will carry the vertical Z cross-section structural members (see FIG. 1) upon which are mounted the horizontal side drawer case members lor guide members E of U cross-section. These members E at the forward end of the desk will carry, by the pivotal connection F indicated in FIG. 7, the tare bar or rotary verticallocking bar G.

The center drawer will have an actuating member or case member track H of U cross-section which will t into and slide in the case member I for the center drawer which is positioned on the inside face of the structural partition member A.

Extending through the partition A is the relatively rigid resilient spring member K, shown by itself in perspective in FiG. 9 and in assembly in FIGS. l to 6. This member K will have an actuating loop L extending into the path of the center drawer case member track H and particularly the actuating tab S of such track.

The extension end M of the spring member K extends into and engages the vertical tare bar G and is designed to swing such tare bar into locking position, as indicated in FIG. 6, or to release it so that it will swing away from said locking position, as shown in FIG. 5.

In locking position the integrally locking tabs N (see FIGS. 5 and 6) will swing into the path of the abutment members P, which 'are positioned on the case member tracks Q on the outside drawers C.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the main interior wall structural element A consists of a tlat plate of metal having the right angular turned front tiange 11 and rear flange 12, these flanges serving to conceal and enclose the vertical members D `and the case members E for the side drawers.

The top and bottom of the structure A also has inturned flanges 13 and 14 at the top and bottom thereof respectively.

There is an additional forward Z cross-section member or post 17, the rear ange of which, 18 (see FIG. 1) is welded to the plate lil and the forward flange 19 of which (see FIG. 1) is Welded to the inturned flange Ztl of the front portion 11 (see also FIGS. 5 and 6).

The vertical Z cross-section members D, at their upper ends 15, 'are supported by the flanges 13 and at their lower ends 16 are welded to the horizontal Z members 21, the lower anges 22 of which are welded to the flanges 14. The kadditional Z cross-section member 17 also has its lower end 23 mounted on a Z cross-section horizontal member 24 (see FIG. 1).

The side drawer case members are mounted upon the rear vertical member D and the front vertical member 17 by forward tab arrangement 25 and a rear tab arrangement 26.

This tab arrangement is not shown in vdetail in this application since it forms no part of the present invention, but it is achieved by means of slotting the vertical member 17 'and the rear vertical member D and causing such slots to engage with outstanding tabs formed integrally from the base of the U cross-section case members E.

The horizontal members E receive the case member track H for the center drawer, which is of U crosssection as shown in FIG. 4 and has its base 28 welded to the side 27 of the center drawer B.

The case member track has an inturned integral ange or tab S adjacent `its forward end.

This tab, when the center drawer B is closed, will act upon the loop L of the spring actuator, as indicated by the arrow 40 in FIG. 6, the closing movement of the drawer being indicated by the arrow 41 in FIG. 6.

Referring specifically to this transferring device or resilient spring device K, it consists of a relatively heavy resilient steel wire 42 (see FIG. 9) which has an inwardly exteding loop L in the path of the tab S (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

The lower leg of the loop L is coiled, as indicated at 43, around the vertical bar 44 which extends upwardly from the horizontal member or flange 45 formed integrally from the base 46 of the center drawer case member .T (see FIGS. 4 and 9).

The upper leg 47 of the loop L extends through the clip 48, which is pivotally mounted on the vertical bar 45 `and held in position by the T head 49 (see FIG. 9).

The T head 49 is inserted through the slot 49a in the clip and this slot will then be turned out of registry by the spring structure shown in K (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

The outstanding leg M then extends to and through the upper end 50 (see FIG. 4) of the vertical bar member G.

The coiled portion 2.3 (see FIG. 9) `also has an extension tat 51 which will project through the opening 52 in the wall or plate 10 and into the center drawer case member I, where it will 'have ya permanent abutment below the tab 53, stamped out of the base of the center drawer case member I.

The loop L will normally tend to press in the direction 54a, while the leg M will normally tend to press in the direction 55a (see FIG. 9), while the leg 51 will perma- 4 nently abut against the base of the center drawer case member J below the tab 53.

With the center drawer withdrawn, the loop L will abut against the edge 54 of the opening, as shown in FIG. l. But the tab S will act upon it, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the center drawer B is pushed inwardly in the direction 41 to tend to move the bar member G from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6.

The bar member G, as shown in small scale in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and in larger scale in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, consists of a rectangular bar having three inturned tabs N (see FIGS. 1 and Z), one for each side drawer, and the cutouts 55. This tare bar G also has recesses or openings 56 (see FIG. 7) through which project the hook members 57 stamped out integrally from the base.

The forward edge 5S of the bar will tit and swing in the recess 59 formed by the outturned, relatively short hook 6i) turned `out from the base 61 of the side drawer case members E.

The tare bar G may oscillate as indicated by the double arrow 62 (see FIG. 7) in the socket 59 and it will be stopped on its inside movement by the base 61 of the case member E, as shown in FIG. 7 and by the inturned end portion `635 of the hook 57 which projects through the opening 56 therein.

The position against the base 61, as shown in FIG. 6, will be a locking position, while the position away from the base, as shown in FIG. 5, will be an enlarged position permitting the side drawers to be readily withdrawn.

The side drawers C, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, have a side wall 70 to which is welded the base 71 of the side drawer case member track Q (see also FIG. 4).

This side drawer case member track Q has the upper and lower flanges 72, and 73, with the lower ange 73 having an upturned flange edge portion 74. Extending upwardly from unflanged portion of the base 71 is the tab 75 which carries the inturned semi-cylindrical 4abutment member P of conical shape which has a rearwardly camming or sloping face, as shown best in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8.

This camming face 76 will permit the side drawer C to be closed in the direction 77, even if the tare bar G has been placed in locking position, `as shown in FIG. 6, since they will cam the tabs N andthe bar G in dotted line position in FIG. 6 if the center drawer B has been closed before the side drawers C.

Once the side drawers C and the center drawer B have both been closed, then the forward semi-cylindrical end portion 7 8 of the abutment P will be locked inside of the tab B Iand the side drawers cannot be pulled out until they are released by the center drawer.

In operation, the spring member E or the spring wire 42 is of sufficient rigidity, being made of steel wire about l@ inch in diameter, to act as a lever member to turn the tare bar G in the recess 59 inside of the hook 60 from locking position of FIG. 6 to unlocked position of FIG. 5 and vice Versa.

The leg 51 will normally cause the spring wire 42 to turn in the direction 53 of FIG. 9 so that the loop L will abut against the edge 54 of the opening T shown in FIG. 1.

When the loop L yis contacted and pressed to the rear by the tab S, this will `cause the tab S, together with the leg M, to act as a lever to press the tare bar G against the iiat base 61 of the side `drawer case member E, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

If any one of the side drawers has not yet been closed, the camming action of the surface 76 on the abutment P will permit such side drawers C to be forced past the locking tab N.

The tare bar G will loosely pivot in the recess 59 in back of the hook 60 (see FIG. 7) and will be held in position by the hook 57 with the end 63 of said hook acting -as a stop.

The spring member K will pivot on the vertical leg 44 and by means of the clip 48 at the top and the coil 43 at the bottom, `as shown in FIG. 9. The resiliency of the legs of 'the loop will tend to press the clip 48 and the loop 43 apart.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a novel desk construction in which a simply installed, reliably operated vertical .tare bar is pivotally mounted without any special bearings, whether roller bearings or other bearings, and without a vertical sliding locking bar member resulting in friction and jamming if there is any slight displacement of the various parts of the metal desk, either due to temperature changes or due to handling.

The tare bar will be reliable in operation with a very short movement thereof putting it into latching position against lthe corresponding abutment elements of the side drawer case member tracks. The center drawer and the side drawers will not be obstructed at any time by the vertical tare bar member, which will be oppositely moved out of posi-tion by the spring and which will only be held resiliently in locking position by the same spring so that it may be readily displaced incase any side drawer member has not been pressed home.

As many changes could be made in the above metal desk construction, and many widely diierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departure from the `scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall 'be interpreted as illustrative and not in `a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. A metal desk locking arrangement for side drawers of the type in which the center drawer when closed locks the side drawers in position and in which there is an intermediate vertical desk structural member carrying horizontal case members on its opposite sides to receive respectively center drawer and side drawer case member tracks mounted on the sides of the center and side drawer and sliding in said horizontal case member, said locking arrangement comprising a vertical rotary mounted tare bar extending the height of the structural member having an outstanding obstruction to be placed in the path of the track of the side drawer and actuating means for said bar operated by said center drawer track, said tare bar consisting of a vertically elongated strip of metal normally positioned in a parallel plane between the planes of the adjacent side walls of the center and side drawers when in locking position and extending obliquely inwardly toward the center drawer when in unlocked position, said obstruction consisting of an inturned ver-tical ange extending transversely from the swinging edge of the tare bar toward the adjacent sides: of the side drawers, said actuating means consisting of a heavy spring wire loop member actuated from the track of the center drawer at one end and causing swinging movement of the tare bar at the other end.

2. A 'metal desk locking arrangement Afor side drawers of the type in which the center drawer when closed locks the side drawers in position and in which there is an intermediate vertical desk structural member carrying horizontal case members on its opposite sides to receive respectively center drawer and side drawer case member tracks mounted on the sides` of the center and side drawer and sliding in said horizontal case member, said locking arrangement comprising a vertical rotary mounted tare bar extending the height of the structural member having an outstanding obstruction to be placed in the path of the track of the side drawer and actuating means for said bar operated by said center drawer track, said tare bar consisting of a vertically elongated strip of metal normally positioned in a parallel plane between the planes of the adjacent side walls of the center and side drawers when in locking position yand extending obliquely inwardly toward the center drawer when in unlocked position, said obstruction consisting of an inturned ver-tical flange extending transversely from the swinging edge of the tare bar toward the adjacent sides of the side drawers, said side drawer case members having horizontally extending hook members, one of which serves as a pivot mount for the forward edge of the tare bar and the other of which serves as a stop member to hold the intermediate portion of the vtare bar in position and limit its swinging movement in an unlocking direction.

3. A metal desk locking arrangement for side drawers of the type in which the center drawer when closed locks the side drawers in position and in which there is an intermediate vertical desk structural member carrying horizontal case members on its opposite sides to receive respectively center drawer and side drawer case member tracks mounted on the sides of the center and side drawer and sliding in said horizontal case mem-ber, said locking arrangement comprising a vertical rotary mounted tare bar extending the height of the structural member having an outstanding obstruction to be placed in the path of the track of the side drawer and actuating means for said bar operated by said center drawer track, said tare bar consisting of a vertically elongated strip of metal normally positioned in a parallel plane between the planes of the adjacent side walls of the center and side drawers when in locking position and extending obliquely inwardly toward the center drawer when in unlocked position, said obstruction consisting of an inturned vertical flange extending transversely from the swinging edge of the tare bar toward the adjacent sides of the side drawers, said actuating means consisting of a spring wire projecting through the structural member and `forming la loop inside projecting portion which extends into the case member for t-he center drawer and is actuated by the track of the center drawer.

4. A metal ldesk locking arrangement for side drawers of the type in which the center drawer when closed locks the side drawers in position and in which there is an intermediate vertical desk structural member carrying horizontal case members on its opposite sides to receive respectively center drawer and side drawer case member tracks mounted on the sides of the center and side drawer and sliding in said horizontal case member, said locking arrangement comprising a vertical rotary mounted tare bar extending the height of the structural member having `an outstanding obstruction to be placed in the path of the track of the side drawer and actuating means for said bar operated by `said center drawer track, said tare bar consisting of a vertically elongated strip of metal normally positioned in a parallel plane between the planes of the .adjacent side walls of the center and side drawers when in locking position Land extending obliquely inwardly toward the center drawer when in unlocked position, said obstruction consisting of `an inturned vertical flange extending transversely from the swinging edge of the tare bar toward the adjacent sides of the side drawers, said last mentioned actuating means consisting of a looped and coiled locking arrangement, provided with a loop extending obliquely and a leg extending obliquely rearwardly through the structural member into the center drawer case member and also provided with a leg extending into and through the upper end of the tare bar and having a central pivotal mounting on the structural member between said legs and said loop.

5. A locking device for the side drawers of a metal desk construction of the type having a center locking drawer and side superimposed drawers and a supporting structure having slideways` with slideway guides for the center and side drawers and a wall yseparating the side and center drawers and carrying the adjacent slideway guides, a rotary swinging at elongated bar pivotally mounted on the side of the drawer slideway guides, said side drawers having `cam projections positioned above said slideway guides and said bar having offset obliquely bent contact members to move into the path of said cam projections and a resiliently biased lever member mounted on said wall and actuated center `drawer to oscillate said bar between locking and unlocking positions, said lever member having spring means to swing said bar toward the center drawer and away from the side drawer and a transverse lug projecting from the side of the center drawer to act on the lever when the center drawer is being closed to swing the bar against the side drawer slideways land to swing the obliquely bent contact members on the path O-f the cam projections, said lever member consisting of a wire loop projecting into the path of said transverse lug and having biasing extensions, one contacting the wall and the other contacting and extending through the vertical bar and biasing said vertical bar into locking position.

6. A locking device for the side drawers of a metal desk construction of the type having a center locking drawer and side superimposed drawers and a supporting structure Ihaving slideways with slideway guides for the center and side drawers and a wall separating the side and center drawers and carrying .the adjacent slideway guides, a rotary swinging flat elongated bar pivotally mounted on the side of the drawer slideway guides, said side drawers having cam projections positioned above said slideway guides and said :bar having offset obliquely bent contact members to move into the path of said cam projections and -a resiliently biased lever member mounted on said wall and actuated center drawer to oscillate said bar between locking and unlocking positions, said lever member having spring means to swing said bar toward the center drawer and away from the side drawer and a transverse lug projecting from the side of the center drawer to act on the lever when the center drawer is being closed to swing the bar against the side drawer slideways and to swing the obliquely bent contact members on the path of the cam projections, said vertical bar being held in position by two hook members extending outwardly from the slideway guides for the side drawers and forming pivotal mounts at one edge of said elongated bar and forming stop elements to limit movement adjacent the other edge of the elongated bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,841,220 Strum Jan. 12, 1932 1,909,848 Rand May 16, 19-33 2,498,271 Hearn Feb. 2l, 1950 2,688,526 Ulrich Sept. 7, 1954 2,860,025 Hutzelrnan Nov. 11, 1958 

